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Daily Mirror
26-05-2025
- Health
- Daily Mirror
'I watched own death on operating table before I was pushed back into my body'
Pam Reynolds Lowery's case is one of the most accurate near-death experiences on record - and now a woman who researched her case explained how the out-of-body experience occured A woman who had a near-death experience claims she saw things she shouldn't have whilst undergoing major surgery - and recalled the scary ordeal, leaving experts baffled. Pam Reynolds Lowery had one of the most well-documented near-death experiences on record when she had a risky brain operation. Pam had a "standstill operation" where doctors put her vitals into a near-death state in order to operate on the location of her brain aneurysm. During the procedure, she claimed to have 'floated above a doctor's shoulder' and despite being clinically dead, Pam 'observed' the operation where surgeons were drilling into her head. Christina Randall, a podcaster who has extensively researched the bizarre case, has detailed exactly how Pam's body went through an out-of-body experience. She explained how Pam had been experiencing symptoms of dizziness, temporary loss of speech and bouts of paralysis before a scan revealed a large aneurysm close to her brain stem. Christina explained: "As a last resort, a neurosurgeon of the Barrow Neurological Institute in Phoenix, Arizona, decided that a rarely performed procedure called a standstill operation could improve Pam's chance of surviving." She continued: "Pam's body temperature was lowered to 50° Fahrenheit – or 10° Centigrade – her breathing and her heartbeat completely stopped and the blood was completely drained from her head," as previously reported by The Mirror. During the operation, her eyes were taped shut, and she wore a headset playing a series of loud clicking sounds over her ears. These sounds, which would have been intensely annoying if Pam had been conscious, allowed the anaesthetist to confirm that there was no activity in the patient's brain. Christina said: "Pam said during this she felt more aware than normal and her vision was more focused and clearer than normal... her senses became so hyper-aware it was as if she had more than five senses." She was in such a heightened state that she watched as the surgeons drilled into her skull to access the aneurysm. "She was able to see the electric saw that was pulled out to use on her and she described it as looking like an electric toothbrush," Christina continued. Because of her specific details, it meant she had managed to watch the major surgery from outside her own body. In her own words, Pam recalled: "I was looking down at the body. I knew it was my body but I didn't care. My vantage point was sort of sitting on the doctor's shoulder. I remember the instrument in his hand, it looked like the handle of my electric toothbrush." She then explained: "I had assumed that they were going to open the skull with a saw. I had heard the term 'saw' but what I saw looked a lot more like a drill than a saw – he even had little bits that were kept in this case that looked like the case that my father stored his socket wrenches in when I was a child." She also remembered the conversations between the doctors and nurses - and while she experienced the whole thing, she wasn't alone. Christina stated: "When she tried making out the figures, she realised that it was her grandmother and uncle and other deceased people that she knew." Pam specifically mentioned her late uncle, who passed away at just 39, seemed to be acting as a guide. She continued: "My uncle was the one who brought me back down to the body but then I got to where the body was and I looked at the thing and I for sure did not want to get in it." She said her body appeared "lifeless" and was "hesitant" to return to it, but her uncle persuaded her to go back. She said he told her it's "like diving into a swimming pool, just jump in" and said he pushed her to give her a "little help". She compared the experience to "jumping into ice water" and, after her operation, amazed the doctors with her recollection while she was "dead". Despite many people being sceptical of Pam's story, Cardiologist Michael Sabom is convinced that Pam's experience is authentic. He has identified over a hundred instances of anaesthetised or seriously injured individuals having experiences that suggest some form of life after death.
Forbes
07-04-2025
- Sport
- Forbes
Eight Popular Marathons In Europe For A Great Fitness Holiday
Runners at the Paris Marathon with the Arc de Triomphe in the background. Photo by Daniel Dorko Demand for 'fitness holidays' is on the rise, with marathons in Europe ascending to the top of the list of activities sought after by people looking to combine travel and sightseeing with physical challenges in 2025. A recent study by the online holiday company Travel Republic found that the demand for 'fitness holidays' went up by 84% in the past month and Google searches for 'European marathons' by 403%. Based on those indicators, the company ranked 'the most sought-after marathons for spring 2025,' including in the first five positions: 1. Vienna marathon, Austria, April 6; 2. Limassol marathon, Cyprus, April 27; 3. Prague marathon, Czech Republic, March 30; 4. Paris marathon, France, May 4; 5. Copenhagen marathon, Denmark, April 13. The list also features marathons in Rotterdam, Netherlands, May 4; London, U.K., April 13; Stockholm, Sweden, May 31; Hamburg, Germany , April 27 and Madrid, Spain, April 27. Here is a list of a number of the most popular European marathons that ,according to experts, are worth the trip to combine with a great vacation. Runners cross the Charles Bridge during the Prague International Marathon last year. Photo by Matej Divizna The Orlen Prague Marathon, one of the most prestigious on the continent, follows a scenic urban route. With average May temperatures ranging between 9 and 19 degrees Centigrade, it offers prime conditions for runners. The course follows the Vltava, the city's longest river, crossing the iconic Charles Bridge and passing by the Saint Vitus Cathedral and the Prague Castle. These medieval and Gothic architectural landmarks, along with the fabulous gardens of the imposing Imperial Castle, give the marathon a very charming route. If too late to register, on the same day the city has the 'ČT 2Run Prague Marathon', 2 x 21 kilometers, offering a half marathon route. Also, on May 3, the 'dm Family Mile' marathon to run or simply walk is a non-competitive family mile for families, including kids, beginners, parents and grandparents. And the free 'dm Bambini Run' just for kids, also on May 3, is divided among three categories according to the age of the competitors and giving each participant a t-shirt, starting number and chocolate medal at the finish line. Participants run pass the Luxor Obelisk with the National Assembly in the background, during the Paris Marathon last year. With more than 50,000 finishers in 2024, the 'Schneider Electric Marathon de Paris', one of the five largest in the world, offers a picturesque sporting and cultural experience in the heart of Paris, running along the banks of the Seine River and passing by some of the city's most iconic locations including Notre Dame Cathedral, the Eiffel Tower, the Palais Garnier, the Bastille and the Arc de Triomphe. This year's 48th edition starts on the Champs-Élysées, with an exceptional view of the Arc de Triomphe, then heads east around the Palais Garnier, continues along Rue de Rivoli before reaching Place de la Bastille at the sixth kilometer. This edition will include hoofing through Place de la Nation and then back to the usual crossing at the Bois de Vincennes and returning to the city center along the right bank of the Seine, graced by the view of the Eiffel Tower. The final ten kilometers cross the Bois de Boulogne, leading to the finish on Avenue Foch. The race appeals to elite runners from Kenya and Ethiopia, among other global runners. It's a great way to test speed, timing and performance, and to prepare for other athletic challenges in the year. The event also features musical shows, spectators and a festive atmosphere along the route. This race is more challenging and less accessible to weekend athletes than the Paris Half Marathon, which already ran in March and has already opened registrations for the next edition on March 8, 2026. Also, children can run their own 'Marathoon's', a free, non-timed race especially dedicated to children ages 5 to 12, taking place at Place Fontenoy on April 12. Here is some advice on how to prepare. Participants wearing costumes in the Medoc Marathon, near Pauillac, southwestern France. Photo by Christophe Archambault Famous for its festive atmosphere, the Marathon du Médoc is known by a number of different names including 'the world's booziest marathon,' "the longest Marathon in the world,' and 'the funniest marathon.' This event offers wine and cheese stops, live music and plenty of creative costumes as it winds through Bordeaux's famous vineyards. 'The cheerful atmosphere and stunning vineyard views make it a joy to watch and join in the fun,' according to Travel Republic. Created in 1985 and held every year in September through the vineyards of the Médoc region, the race includes wine-tasting stops, musical breaks along the course, oyster tasting at the 38th kilometer and steak at the 39th. The marathon attracts thousands of participants from around the world, many of them wearing colorful and funny costumes, who run the circuit that crosses the vineyards and chateaux of Pauillac, Saint-Julien, Saint-Estèphe, Médoc and Haut-Médoc, beginning and ending in Pauillac. Runners in the London Marathon pass Buckingham Palace. Photo by Peter Macdiarmid. For many runners, this is the European marathon to participate in at least once in a lifetime. The London Marathon (also known by its sponsorships as the TCS London Marathon) is one of the seven Abbott World Marathon Majors, which are the world's top-level marathon races and include Tokyo, Boston, Sydney, Berlin, Chicago and New York. But it's in London that the marathon world record has been broken on seven occasions. Although probably too late to include it in your fitness holiday plans for this year, it's not late to start training. Given its popularity, with thousands of international runners trying to gain access each year, it's organized around a lottery system. The course, mostly flat, starts near Blackheath in Greenwich and goes along the River Thames, crossing the Tower Bridge, passing Big Ben and the London Eye and finishing in front of Buckingham Palace. The event features a mass race for the public, professional races for men and women long-distance runners, elite level wheelchair races for men and women and a three-mile mini marathon event for under-17 athletes. The Midnight Sun Marathon in Tromso, Norway, starts at 8 p.m and runs along the harbor. The 'official' name of this Scandinavian event is the Tromsø Midnight Sun Marathon, drawing more than 6,000 participants from around the world each year. Last year, 7,000 runners from 88 nations took the challenge. Held since 1990 in Tromsø, the Arctic capital of Norway located at 69 degrees north and some 350 kilometers north of the arctic circle, most of the city is situated on a small island surrounded by the sea and beautiful mountains. The Midnight Sun Marathon also includes a 21-kilometer half marathon, a 10-kilometer Coop Mila marathon, a five-kilometer Mini Marathon and an 800-meter version. The race starts at 8:30 P.M., in total daylight — it doesn't get dark this close to the Arctic Circle in summer — and winds through gorgeous views of the surrounding peaks, the sea and wandering reindeer. Runners competing at the 50th edition of the Berlin Marathon in Berlin, Germany, on September 29, 2024. Photo by John MacDougal. The BMW Berlin marathon, defined by records, diversity and a unique energy , is one of the largest marathons in the world. As an event in the Abbott World Marathon Majors Series, it allocates race entries by lottery. Among the flattest of the World Marathon Majors, it runs along the most beautiful sights of Berlin including the Brandenburg Gate and Reichstag, with massive crowds cheering runners on and is a favorite for record chasers. Held since 1974, the event includes many other races spread over a weekend, such as elite level road-running competitions for men and women, a race for the public, an inline skating race, a wheelchair race, a handcycle race and a children's marathon Runners compete during the 39th Budapest Half Marathon along the Danube River on Sept. 8, 2024. Photo by Attila Volgyi. Hungary's largest sporting event, the Budapest marathon, touted as 'the queen of distances,' is a two-day running festival. Taking part in the marathon is essentially a sightseeing-by-fleet-of-foot tour of beautiful Budapest. The course winds through the heart of the city, crossing several bridges and showcasing iconic landmarks including the UNESCO World Heritage Banks of the Danube, the Buda Castle the Chain Bridge and the Hungarian Parliament. Music performers and cheering crowds add a festive tone to the event. There are shorter distance races for less experienced runners ranging from 400 meters to 42 kilometers, in which everyone in the family can find their own challenge. Runners in the Amsterdam Marathon passing through the Rijksmuseum. Photo by Ana Fernandez. This is a special year for the TCS Amsterdam Marathon because it will mark two anniversaries: Amsterdam's 750 birthday and its own 50th anniversary. For that reason, the program has been expanded into a full weekend. On Saturday, a 7.5 kilometer race will take place in celebration of Amsterdam's anniversary and both full and half marathons will be held on Sunday. This event is a World Athletics Platinum Label Road Race, renowned for being one of the fastest courses in the world. Highlights of the flat course include the start and finish in the Olympic Stadium, the passage through the Rijksmuseum and along the Heineken Experience, stretches along the Amstel river and through the Vondelpark. Although a renewed route through the city center had been considered for this year, due to the high number of participants already registered, plans have been postponed for the 2026 edition. To keep in mind for next year: As the trend of Fitness Tourism abroad grows, marathons in Europe become more popular, offering something for everybody and at all levels. For that reason, travel experts advise to choose well in advance, register in time — and take time to prepare.
WIRED
10-02-2025
- Lifestyle
- WIRED
The Best Puffer Jackets to Survive the Cold
Klattermusen Lopt Hooded Down Jacket Yet more insulated brilliance from Sweden, where northerly winter temperatures drop to −22 to −40 Fahrenheit. Klättermusen, which translates to 'Climbing Mouse', manufactures some of the highest-performing and stylish outdoor gear available. Yes, they've been co-opted by the fashion-oriented Gorpcore Gang, but don't let the hipsters put you off. The Lopt, which is also available as a vest and without a hood in both men's and women's sizes, weighs just 15 ounces (435-grams) and boasts a generous 800 fill power of sustainably sourced white goose down. It's water-repellent, temperature rated between +10 to -10-degrees Centigrade, and the PFC-free bio-based outer fabric is impressively wind-resistant. I've been using this jacket daily in London and also as a midlayer while skiing, and I've been impressed by the lofty warmth from the down and the comfort of the fit. It can also pack down into a pocket, which is always a bonus. The asymmetrical opening—something you find on a lot of their gear—does take a bit of getting used to, but once fully zipped up there's absolutely zero chin chafing or annoyance from the zipper. You might not think you've ever been irritated by a zip, but trust me, you notice when it has been eliminated. It is hard to look past the high price of Klättermusen gear, and you do not need to spend $400 to find a jacket to keep you warm, but if you do have deep pockets, I think the brand offers a significant upgrade on athletic and aesthetic performance compared to fashion-focused brands such as Moncler and Canada Goose. — Chris Haslam Specs Down fill power 800 Fill weight unlisted Weight 15.3 oz $459 at Klattermusen (Men's) $459 at Klattermusen (Women's) Unlike everything else on this page, Ororo's insulated jacket isn't just insulated. In addition to the synthetic Thermolite insulation, the Ororo heated jacket generates heat through a series of carbon fiber heating elements, which plug into a rechargeable battery. There are heating pads on the left and right chest, mid-back, and collar. You can't control heat to individual pads, but there are three heat settings to let you dial in a comfortable temperature to match your exertion level. The outer shell is a DWR-treated nylon that does a good job of shedding light rain and snow, though as with most of these puffer coats, you'll want a rain jacket if it really starts to rain. Ororo claims up to 10 hours of battery life. That's on low. Running at high in some very cold conditions, I found that 5-7 hours was more realistic, but plenty of time for most things you'd want this jacket for (my daughter declared it the perfect ice skating jacket). Due to the limitations of batteries, I would not take this jacket into the backcountry, but for around town, running errands, walking the dog, this is a great jacket for those coldest of days.
